Ground boring device



Feb. 25, .1947. A. l. SUNDBERGH 2,416,501

GROUND BORING DEVICE Filed Feb. 5, 1943 Z-Sheets-Sheet l gva Feb. 25, 1947. SUNDBERGH 2,416,501

GROUND BORING DEVICE I Filed Feb. 5, 1943 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented Feb. 25, 1947 UNITED" STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Application February 5, 1943; Serial No. 474,817

In Sweden February 16;,19421 1'6.Claims. (01; 61-73 I This invention ground boringdeviccs.

Forcertaingroundtests, ground boring devices are used which comprise a rigid rod or tube having, for instance, a diameterof one'inchormore, which rod or tube'is driven into-theground'in vertical or substantially vertical direction. If the depth of the holetobe bored'isconsiderable; for instance-1S0 ft. ormore, the boring rod consists of" a plurality of rod members longitudinally joined toanother'. Usually, the rod isdriven into the ground by means of'a'ram or hammer having an'openingfor the rod, said hammer being adap edtostrike a blow upon a blow transmitting member detachablysecured to the rod. Said blow transmitting-member is gradually moved upwards on the rod as' the latter-is driven down more'and moreinto the ground. Hitherto, the'blow transmitting member is usually secured to the bore rod by means of a screw-actuated clamping device, which, however, is not absolutely reliable and the operation of which istime-wasting. bore rod is liable to be deformedby theheavy clamping actionwhich is often necessary to secure firm'engagement between there-d and" the blow transmitting member. ifheabove named construction is not only inconvenient in manipulation-but is detrimental to the bore rodwhich is frequently-subject to wear due to thefact' that the blow transmitting device, especially when operatingin hard ground, is sliding on the rod-in clamped position. A further'inconvenience coherent with ground boring devices of the type considered consists in the useof 'unpractical lifting jacks or similar mechanisms for lifting the rod driven'down into the ground.

The invention has for'its object to provide a ground boring or penetrating device of the character indicated, by which the above inconveniences'are entirely avoided. The principal object of theinvention is to provide a blow transmitting device which automaticallycan be fastened to, and released from the bore rod byth'e'agency of the bore driving hammer. A further object'of the invention is to provide a jack device for convenient lifting'ofthe rod'fromthe ground after the boring operation is finished.

Further objects of the invention will appear from the following description of a preferred embodiment of'the invention, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings forming part of this specification and in which Fig. l is a: generalviewof'the boring device with the various parts thereof inoperative posi:

tions; Fig. 2:.is a sectionatview, to an enlarged relates to improvements 111" Further; the

scale, of the blow transmitting" device, and: the movable plate associated with the bore rod,.Fig: 3 is-atop view of the blow transmittingm'ember shown in Fig: 2;.with the wedge members omitted*,-Fig, 4 is a vertical sectional viewthrouglr a lifting. device, parts thereof being; shown'inelevation; and" Fig. 5" is'a top view of adetail-belonging to the lifting-device.

The: invention may be" applied not' only to ground" boring. orpenetrating-d'evice's but also to be equallywell used" for: tubes. or rods'havin'g smalleriorilarger crossesections, for-instance; for tubes having-an outer diameter'of some feet.

Referringnow to-the'drawing, numeral I indicates' theboreirod'which is intended to. be driven into the groundand'which normally consists of a plurality 'of rod; members suitably secured. to

eachiother; eaclrrod member. having; for in= stance-a length of about, 10. ft. The joints 2' are advantageously constructed in a manner' such that the-endporti0ns-0f the rods" are provided with internal threads fora' connecting screw" 2a. so as to avoid 'proi ecting'parts, such as connecting" sleeves or the like members. NumeralIBindicates a ram: 01'" hammer having; a central. passageway for-the'rod; I and being provided with operating handles 4 and downwardly extending: abutting faces -5- and 6': The hammer is'intended to strike blows uporr a blow transmitting'member I consi-sting'of" acasing fi and'a' number ofwedges 9: The rod. I" further surrounding; the bore rod I; exten'dsthrough a combined" vertically adjust= able support and 'liftingjack I I3" which will be de:

scribed in 1 detail later on and onwhich there" is;

resting amQVable-plate I I having a central open: ing I8 -forthe'rod" I- (Fig; 2). The jack I,0"can' be operated manually by means of an iron bar or lever -I 2 'havinga needle point I 2' on'its' outerend which may be usedfor makinga startinghole' for the rodto be drivenintothe ground.

As will'b'e seenfrom-Fi'g. 2; the-casingt'hasa central bore in the shaperof-an inverted-frustum of'a-cone; Theinner face 21 of the casin'g'is ar:

ranged to cooperate with'the outer-faces; of the wedges ii where'o'y toforce the innerfaces of the wedges into 1 locking engagement-with the-rod, I; If the hammer 3 -turned through -9'0 ab'out the" rod I as compared' with the position" shown in i wards a certain distance on the rod I. V 3 end, the plate II is preferably rapidly lifted together with the blow transmitting member resting thereon, the hammer 3 being again turned 7 F 2,416,501 V q a Fig. 1, the abutment 6 will strike, upondownward movement of the hammer, on the upper abutments M of the wedges and thereby cause firm blow transmitting member. If the blow trans- To this end, the hammer 3 is turned into the position shown in Fig. 1, in Which the abutments 5, which are projecting downwardly beyond the abutment 7 the position to which a certain part of the hammitting member has been forced downwards to j a certain extent, it must be moved a certain distance upwardly relative to the rod l.

B, will come, upon downward movement of the hammer, into contact with upwardly projecting abutments IE on the casing 8, which abutments 7 extend above the upper edge It of the casing (see 1 also Fig. 3).

In'the position shown in Fig. 1, when the abutca'sing 8 will tend to get loose from its locking engagement with the wedges. However, the casing and the wedges are normally so firmly. interlocked that, if the ground is loose or yielding, the member 8, 9 will be forced downwards tobined support and lifting jack is provided between the downwardly projecting lower ends I! of the wedges and the ground, which support prevents continued downward movement of the wedges.

v I ments'5 are striking upon the abutments l5, the

The said support is constructed and arranged to constitute a combined adjustable support and rod j lifter comprising a lifting jack III which steadily I rests on the ground and through which the rod l extends so as to be guided and maintained properly in position relative to the work. The loose I plate H prevents the support H! from being dami aged'by' engagement with the blow transmitting 1 member. Whenthe lower end portions [1 of the wedges come into contact with the plate ll rest- 1 ing on the support, the hammer 5 striking on the casing 8 will release the same from the wedges, thereby unfastening the blow transmitting member from the rod l.

If the boring'operation is to be continued, the blow transmitting member 1 is to bemoved up- To this through an angle of 90 and maintained in a position a certain distance above the jack. If, during the rapid upward movement of the blow transmitting member, the upper portions M of j the wedges come into contact with the abutment 6, the casing 8 will due to inertia continue its upward movement so as to efiect sufiicient engagernent with the wedges to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod I.

In order to obtain rational tests of the qualities of the ground withrespect to its resistance to the downward movement of the bore rod, the hammer blow transmitting member and be allowed freely to fall by its own weight. To this end, the ham, ;mer is advantageously'provided with a measurmer is to be lifted.

Although the wedges shown in the drawing by way of example are projecting above and below the end faces of the casing 8, it will be obvious that the invention is not limited to this particular construction, and that one or both end portions of the wedges may be located Within the casing, in which instance the projecting portions I4 and I? may be replaced by suitable rings or similar members. Obviously, the inner abutment 6 may be located at a lower level than the outer abutments 5, in which instance the upper faces of the wedges should be located below the abutments {5 or even below the upper edge It of the casing 8.

In order to obtain firm engagement of the blow transmitting member, there must be a certain clearance 20 between the wedges when they are abutting both against the casing and the rod l. Although two wedges are shown in the drawing, it is obvious that one wedge only or more than two wedges may be used. 7

The lifting jack illustrated in Fig. 4 comprising a screw 3! with a central bore 30 for the rod l and a head 32 rigidly secured to the upper end of the screw by any suitable means such as the pin #2 (Fig. 4). The screw cooperates with a nut 33 secured to a casing 34 which by means of a base plate 35 steadily rests on the ground. At its lower end, the screw 3! has secured thereto a guide ring 33 serving also as a base plate for the screw. If the ring 36 is threaded onto the screw, the path of the threads is advantageously opposite to that of the screw 3|. The head 32 has, for instance, four symmetrically disposed radial holes 3! for engagement with one or more bars or levers [2 (see Fig. 1) for rotating the screw 3|. hollow sleeve or jack member 3| may be inserted in position before the rod or elongated member I is driven into the ground or material, so that the sleeve is immediately available to be brought into operation to extract the rod or penetrating member I from the ground or work.

During the operation of the combined support and lifting jack t9, the head 32 is acting upon a new transmitting member or an ordinary pipe tong secured to the bore rod. If, however, according to the embodiment shown, the head 32 is rotated upon upward movement of the screw, it is preferred to provide the head with a bearing which advantageously is in the form of an axial thrust ball bearing 38. If, according to Fig. 4, the bearing 33 is sunk into thehead 32, in order to protect the bearing when-the jack is used as a support for releasing the blow transmitting memher from the'bore rod, a loose ring or similar member 39 is preferably placed between the bear ing and the member secured to the rod. The ring 39 has alongitudinal slot 43 so that it can be easily removed from the rod.

The blow transmitting member secured to the rod may, in smaller boring devices, consist of one or more pipe tongs. In cases where great forces are necessary to lift the bore rod out of the ground, said member is advantageously constituted by the blow transmitting member. In this case, the lifting force is transmitted to the casing 8 of the blow transmitting member by means of a ring l3 '(see Fig, '1) similar to the ring 39 and placed upon the, plate H. The blow transmitting member may be placed upside down, in which t will be seen that the instance the lifting force will be transmitted to the wedges 9.

The inventio is obviously not limited to the construction of the lifting jack just described. While, in the embodiment illustrated, the head 32 is rigidly fixed to the screw, it may instead thereof be rotatably mounted on the screw which, in this instance, may be provided with holes for the bars or levers it. In a similar mann r, the nut 33 may be mounted for rotation, and the screw arranged to move in axial direction without rotation.

Also in other respects, the invention is not limited to the embodiment thereof shown and described above. For instance, the blow transmitting member may be disposed or constructed in a manner such that, when the bore rod is to be driven into the ground, the blows are delivered upon the casing 8 rather than upon the wedges.

What I claim is:

1. A ground penetrating device comprising a rod, a hammer movable longitudinally of said rod, and a blow transmitting member on said rod, said blow transmitting member'including a casing and at least one wedge movable relative to said casing whereby either to fasten said blow transmitting member to, or to release said member from said rod, and said hammer having two abutments and being arranged to assume different angular positions relative to said blow transmitting member, one of said abutments being arranged in one of said positions to contact with said casing to release the blow transmitting member from the rod, and .the other one of said abutments being arranged in another position'of said hammer to contact with said wedge to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod.

2. A ground penetrating device comprising a rod, a hammer movable longitudinally of said rod and rotatable to assume different angular positions relative to said rod, and axblow transmitting member on said rod, said blow transmitting member including a casing and at least one wedge movable relative to said casing whereby either vto fasten said blow transmitting mem ber to, or to release said member from said rod, said hammer including a first abutment arranged in one of said positions'to contact with said casing torelease the blow transmitting member from the rod, and a second abutment arranged in another position of said hammer to contact with said wedge to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod, said wedge being arranged in the fastening position to project outside at least one end of said casing.

3. A ground pentrating device comprising a rod, a hammer movable longitudinally of said rod and rotatable to assume different angular positions relative to a blow transmitting member, and a blow transmitting member on said rod, said blow transmitting member including a casing and at least one wedge movable relative to said casing whereby either to fasten said blow transmitting member to, or to release said member from said rod, said hammer including a first abutment arranged in one of said positions to contact with said casing to release the blow transmitting member from the rod, and a second abutment arranged in another position of said hammer to contact with said wedge to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod, said first abutment projeoting beyond said second abutment as w n t t on 9 the workin t k or a d hem era i A ground Pene ra i d e e m i ies, a rod, a hammer movable longitudinally of said rod and rotatable to assum different angular positions relative to a blow transmitting member, and a blow transmitting member on said rod, said blow transmitting member including a casing and at least one wedge movable relative to said casing whereby either to fasten said blow transmitting member to, or to release said member from said rod, said hammer including a first, abutment arranged in one of said positions to contact with said casing to release the blow transmitting member from the rod, and a sec ond abutment arranged in another position of said hammer to contact with said wedge to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod, said abutments being located at different radial distances from said rod.

5. A penetrating device of the class described including a hammer, a blow transmitting member arranged to be engaged by the hammer, said.

hammer being rotatable relative to said blow transmitting member and having spaced sur faces arranged to. selectively engage complementary surfaces on said blow transmitting member so that in one position the hammer when brought into engagement with the blow transmitting member fastens the latter to a tool and 'rotated to another position releases the blow transmitting member from the tool, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer contacts one of said spaced surfaces, the other surface is out of contact therewith.

6. A ground penetrating device comprising a rod, a rotatable hammer movable longitudinally of the rod, a blow transmitting member on said rod having separate outer and inner coaxially dis posed wedging elements, said hammer having transversely disposed oifset surfaces, one of said surfaces arranged to engage one of the wedging elements to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod and the other surface arranged to contact the other wedging element to ing transversely disposed offset surfaces, one of .said surfaces arranged to engage the inner wedging element to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod and the other surface arranged to contact with the outer wedging element to release the blow transmitting element from the rod, the parts being constructed and arranged so t when ha mer is o at d t ont c with one of the wedging elements, the other wedging element is free from engagement therewith.

8. A penetrating device comprising an elongated member, a hammer, a blow transmitting member including inner and outer wedging elements adapted to be fastened to said elongated member upon the working stroke of said hammer as the latter is brought into contact with one of said wedging elements and adapted tobe released from said elongated member upon the wo k ng stmke said amme s the letter is 7 brought into contact with the other of said wedging elements, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer is brought in a position to contact with oneof the wedging elements the other wedging element is free from engagement therewith, and a support for the blow transmitting member having a vertical opening through which the elongated member extends, said blow transmitting member being movable downwardly during the operation of the device to rest on the support, said hammer when the blow transmitting member contacts said support being moved to a position so that the hammer when brought into contact with the blow transmitting member strikes the other of said wedging elements to release the blow transmitting memher from the elongated member.

9. A penetrating device comprising an elongated inember, a hammer, a blow transmitting member including inner and outer wedging elements adapted to be fastened to said elongated member upon the working stroke of said ham mer as the latter is brought into contact with. one of said wedging elements and adapted to be released from said elongated member upon the working stroke of said hammer as the latter is brought into contact with the other of said wedging elements, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer is brought in a position to contact with one of the wedging elements the other wedging element is free from. engagement therewith, a support for the blow transmitting member having a vertical opening through which the elongated member extends, said blow transmitting member being movable downwardly during the operation of the device to rest on the support, said hammer when the blow transmitting member contacts said supportbeing turned so that the hammer when brought into contact with the blow transmitting member strikes the other of said wedging elements to, release th blow transmitting member from the elongated membenand a plate mounted on the top of the support having an opening through which the elongated member extends, said plate "being arranged to raise the blow transmitting member away from the support when the wedging 1 elements are released from the elongated mem ber.

10. A penetrating device comprising a boring rod, 'a hammer, a blow transmitting member including inner and outer wedging elementsadapted to be fastened to said rod upon'the working stroke of the hammer when the latter is brought, into contact with the inner wedging element and." adapted to be released from said rod upon the working stroke of said hammer as the latter is brought into contact with the outer wedging ele-, ment, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer is brought in a posi-- tion to contact with one of the wedgingelements the other wedging element is free from engageeration, the hammer contacts with the outer wedging member to'release the blow transmitting member from the rod. r

"11.A penetrating devicefcomprising a-boring rod, a hammer, a blow transmitting member in-- eluding inner andouter wedging element adaptbrought into contact with the outer wedging ele-' ment, the parts being constructed and arrangedso that'when the hammer is brought in' a position to contact with one of the wedging elements the other wedging element is free from engagement therewith, an adjustable support having a vertical opening through'which the boring rod extends, said blow transmitting member being movable downwardly during the operation of the device to rest on the support, said hammer when the blow transmitting member rests on the support being turned so that upon continued operation, the hammer contacts with the outer wedging member to release the blow transmitting member from the rod, and a plate longitudinally slidable on the boring rod and arranged to rest on the top of said support, said plate when the blow transmitting member is released from the rod being arranged to move the blow transmitting member away from the support.

12. A ground penetrating device comprising a rod, a rotatable hammer movable longitudinally of the rod, a blow transmitting member on said rod having separate outer and inner coaxially disposed wedging elements, said hammer having transversely disposed offset surfaces, one of said surfaces arranged to engage the inner wedging element to fasten the blow transmitting member to the rod and the other surface arranged to contact with the'outer wedging element to release the blow transmitting element from the rod, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer is rotated to contact with one of the wedging elements, the other wedging element is free from engagementtherewith, a support for the blow transmittingmember having a vertical opening through which'the rod extends, said blow transmitting member being movable during the operation of the device to rest on the support, said hammer when the blow transmitting member contacts said support being turned ,so that the hammer when brought into contact with the blow transmitting member strikes the outer wedging element to release the blow transmitting member from the rod.

' 13. A ground penetrating device comprising a rod, a'rotatable hammer movable longitudinally of the rod, a blow transmitting member on'said rod having separate outer and inner coaxially disposed wedging elements, said hammer having transversely disposed offset surfaces, one of said surfaces arranged. to engage the inner wedging element tofasten the blow, transmitting member to the rod and the other surface arranged to'contact with the outer wedging element to release the blow transmitting element from the rod, the

parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer is rotated to contact with one of the wedging elements, the other wedging element is free from engagement therewith, a support for the blow transmitting member having a vertical opening through which the rod extends,

said blow transmitting member being movable during the operation of the device to rest on the support, said hammer when the blow transmitting member contacts said support being turned so that the hammerwhenbrought into contact with the blow transmitting member strikes the outer wedging element to, release the blow transmitting member from the elongated member, and V ,7

a plate mounted on the top of the support hav ing an opening through which the rod extends, said plate being arranged to raise the blow transmitting member away from the support when the wedging elements are released from the rod and the hammer is raised to its uppermost position, so that when the blow transmitting member contacts with the hammer, it will cause the Wedging elements to be fastened to the rod.

14. A ground penetrating device comprising a rod, a rotatable hammer movable longitudinally of the rod, a blow transmitting member on said rod having separate outer and inner coaxially disposed wedging elements, said hammer having transversely disposed surfaces, one of sad surfaces arranged to engage one of the wedging elewedging elements, the other wedging element is" free from engagement therewith.

15. A penetrating device having in combination I an elongated member, a hammer, a. blow transmitting member including inner and outer wedging elements adapted to be fastened to said elongated member upon the working stroke of said hammer as the latter is brought into Contact with one of said wedging elements, the parts being constructed and arranged so that when the hammer contacts one of the wedging elements it is out of contact with the other wedging element, a shifting support for the blow transmitting memher having a vertical opening and being longitudinally slidable on said elongated member, said shifting support, when the wedging elements are released from the elongated member and sai hammer is raised to its uppermostposition, being arranged to move the blow transmitting member rapidly against the hammer so that when the blow transmitting member contacts with the ham- 7 to be arranged around and to be fastened to said 15 elongated member, and a hammer slidable along the elongated member to simultaneously apply impacts on the symmetrically arranged inner wedging members without contacting the outer wedging member.

ARNE INGEMAR SUNDBERGH.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in'the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Date Number Name 1,298,379 Osten Mar. 25, 1919 1,562,373 Sheldon Nov. 17, 1925 1,572,534 Hinckley Feb. 9, 1926 1,937,171 Stampfli etal Nov; 28, 1933 2,033,227 Brown Mar. 10, 1936 2,080,673 Roemer May 18, 1927 1,130,076 Eisenmenger Mar. 2, 1915 2,330,360 Hill Sept. 28, 1943 1,572,048 Spencer Feb. 9, 1926 1,689,281 'Forssell Oct. 30, 1928 

